Shoe tree with selectively adjustable inserts

ABSTRACT

A shoe tree with at least one insert that is laterally adjustable for predetermined stretch of the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;upper&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; of a shoe and operated by means of a retractile mandrel which is protracted and with cam means determinably positioning the insert. There is an operating means that assures full protraction of the mandrel, and there is manual adjustment means for each insert which is to be laterally positioned for the desired stretch function.

United States Patent [19] Ballard Jan. 21, 1975 1 SHOE TREE WITHSELECTIVELY ADJUSTABLE INSERTS [76] Inventor: Alexander K. StantonBallard, 621

Midvale Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. 90024 [22] Filed: Mar. 15, 1973 [21]Appl. No.: 341,406

[52] US. Cl. 12/1152 [51] Int. Cl A43d 5/00 [58] Field of Search..l2/115.2,115.8,l16.2,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 229,156 6/1880 Lyonsl2/ll5.2

599,951 3/1898 Thompson 12/1152 Primary Examiner-Patrick D. LawsonAttorney, Agent, or Firm-William 1-1. Maxwell [57] ABSTRACT A shoe treewith at least one insert that is laterally adjustable for predeterminedstretch of the upper of a shoe and operated by means of a retractilemandrel which is protracted and with cam means determinably positioningthe insert. There is an operating means that assures full protraction ofthe mandrel, and there is manual adjustment means for each insert whichis to be laterally positioned for the desired stretch function.

18 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SHOE TREE WITH SELECTIVELY ADJUSTABLEINSERTS BACKGROUND Footwear varies in its requirements for differentindividuals, and it is often difficult to obtain shoes of satisfactoryfit. The proper fit of shoes depends primarily upon the lastfconfiguration selected for the shoe construction which varies inproportions related to length and width. Needless to say, an individualsfeet might not be in conformance of the last configuration selected, noris each foot necessarily identical. For example, a foot can be deformedas a result of injury, and quite often a poor fit can, for whateverreason, result in the formation of protective tissue or skin growthsreferred to as corns and/or bunions. Therefore, and in accordance withthe present invention, it is an object to provide means in a shoe treewhich modifies the general last configuration to the needs of theindividual and particular shoe involved. With the present invention,selected areas of the shoe tree are adjustably engageable with theinterior of a shoe to stretch the same, and a cam element is operable byvirtue of installation of the shoe tree in a shoe to urge the selectedareas thereof into predetermined positioned engagement with the shoeinterior.

An object of this invention is to provide a cam element for a shoe treeas thus far referred to, which inherently operates between a retractedinoperative position and a protracted operative position. With thepresent invention, the cam element is in the form of a longitudinallyshiftable core or mandrel that is positioned by the relatively moveableheel portion of the shoe tree. As will be described, the mandrel istapered and is protracted so as to wedgedly engage laterally shiftableinserts that are positioned thereby.

Another object of this invention is to provide one or more inserts for ashoe tree as thus far referred to, that are adjustable to predeterminedlateral positions whereby a known amount of stretch within certain areasof the shoe is determinable. With the present invention, theaforementioned mandrel has a determined protracted position for maximumoperation and it has infinitely adjustable intermediate positions, allto the end that stretch pressures can be gradually applied.

It is another object of this invention to provide one or more laterallypositionable inserts which are removeable for manual adjustment ofcontrol means, whereby a selected amount of stretch is.determinable overthe areas covered by the inserts respectively.

It is still another object of this invention to provide selectivelyadjustable shoe trees of the character thus far referred to wherein thecritical areas of the shoe, or last configuration, are processed ascircumstances require to be stretched, by selectively controlling thedeterminable positions of the said inserts as desired by any particularindividual so as to correct the inside contour of his shoes.

DRAWINGS The various objects and features of this invention will befully understood from the following detailed description of the typicalpreferred forms and applications thereof, throughout which descriptionreference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a shoe tree incorporating theselectively adjustable inserts and operating mandrel therefor.

FIG. 2 is a plan view taken as indicated by line 22 on FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the shoe tree taken asindicated by line 3-3 on FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing a selective adjustment of theinserts made in accordance with the invention.

And, FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the basic form of insertselected for dimension and positioned by a round mandrel,

SUMMARY OF INVENTION This shoe tree with selectively adjustable insertsnot only applies stretch pressures for the general last configuration ofthe shoe, but also applies localized stretch pressures to determinableareas of the shoe. In carrying out this invention a shoe tree ofconventional form is utilized which comprises a heel portion H and a toeportion T divided over the arch and relatively moveable to be separatedunder pressure one from the other. In practice, there is a piston Pcaptured by a pin 10 operable through a slot 11 therein and yieldinglyurged forwardly from a bore 12 in the heel portion H by means of aspring S. The toe portion T is coupled to the foremost projecting end ofpiston P by a swivel pin 13 on a horizontal axis, preferably through themandrel M as will be described. In accordance with the presentinvention, the improvement in the shoe tree involves the selectiveapplication of pressure on predetermined areas throughout the toeportion T (and throughout the heel portion H which is to be executed inthe same manner, not shown). As shown, the invention includes,generally, the retractile mandrel M that is protracted into the toeportion T, and the laterally shiftable inserts A, B, C, D and E whichare positioned by the said mandrel. A fully protracted positioning ofthe mandrel M is assured by operating means 0, and each insert A throughE is provided in its preferred form with manually controlled adjustmentmeans X.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the retractile mandrel M, it isclearly shown throughout the drawings in the form of a core that isprotracted into working position within the portion of the shoe treewhich carries the laterally shiftable inserts, in the form illustrated,into working position within the toe portion T with its inserts Athrough E. The mandrel M is elongated and is shiftable along a line ofmovement extending longitudinally of the toe portion T, and it ischaracterized by at least one inclined surface or plane angularlydisposed to said line of movement, and as shown is rearwardly divergentrelative thereto. For practical purposes, the areas of the shoe to bestretched are in the upper thereof, in which case there is an upwardlydisposed inclined face 20 and opposite inclined side faces 21 and 22. Inpractice, therefore, the bottom 23 is employed to support the mandrel Min a plane coincidental with said line of movement, upon a supportingface 24 in the toe portion into which the mandrel M is held by means ofa dove-tail slide 25. When the mandrel M is fully protracted as shown,the foremost apex 26 occurs at the toe, while the rearmost butt 27occurs at the arch terminal end 28 of the toe portion. It will be seenthat the mandrel M can retract from the toe portion T.

Referring now to the toe portion T (or heel portion H), the lastconfiguration thereof is embodied in a shell-like form 30 having achamber 31 complementary to the shape of the mandrel M and opening atits inner end to receive the protracted mandrel. The form 30 is providedwith a lateral opening 32 for exposure of the insert at both the outersurface of the form and at the inclined surface or plane of the mandrelto be engaged thereby. As shown, the lateral openings 32 are essentiallyalike for each of the inserts A through E, and each involves a side wall33 that surrounds the insert and holds it to the area involved and toguide the insert laterally. For example, the toe insert A has a rearwall 34 that pitches forwardly and upwardly so as to thrust the insert Aforwardly as it is forced laterally by the mandrel M. Thus, the insertsA through E are exposed to the interior of the shoe to be stretched, andthey are exposed to the inclined surface or plane of the mandrel whichpositions them for this purpose.

Referring now to the inserts A through E, each insert is a body havingan exterior wall 35 contoured to the last" configuration of that area,side walls 36 fitted within the guiding side walls 33, and a flat innerface 37 angularly disposed to have flat interface engagement with theinclined face 20, 21 or 22, as the case may be. That is, face 37 isengaged with the mandrel M when the exterior wall 35 is coincidentalwith the outside contour of the form 30. Thus, the inserts A through Ehave a normal position when the mandrel M is fully protracted as shownthroughout the drawings.

In the embodiment shown; the insert A occupies the area of the big toe,the insert B occupies the area of the tarsus immediate to the big toe,the insert C occupies the area of the metatarsus rearward of the bigtoe, the insert D occupies the area of the ball of the foot immediate tothe side of the big toe, and the insert E occupies the area of the smalltoes. It is to be understood that these insert areas and others can varyin their extent as circumstances require, and that any one or all of thesame can be employed as desired. Further, the heel portion H also can beprovided with the mechanism herein described as related to the toeportion T, but with inserts as required to stretch the heel portions ofthe shoe.

Referring now to the controllable adjustment means X, note particularlyFIG. 4 of the drawings wherein inserts B and E are projected laterallyinto pressure exerting positions (shoe not shown). The flat inner face37 is effectively displaced by a shim preferably in the form of a screwjack 40 having a free turning screw 41 that displaces a flat head 42thereof from the face 37, thereby extending the effective height of theinsert. Thus, the fully protracted mandrel M lifts the inserts to theselected stretch positions, all as is determined by manual adjustment ofthe screw jacks 40 as cicumstances require.

Referring now to the positive fully protracted positioning of mandrel M,I have provided alternate operating means and O' as best illustrated inFIG. I of the drawings wherein the mandrel M is shown fully protractedthereby. The operating means 0 involves a rearwardly faced step 45 onthe mandrel M and a forwardly positionable member 46 carried by the formof the toe portion T. The member 46 disengageably presses the mandrelforwardly into its fully protracted position, and thereby causes themandrel to displace the inserts to preadjusted lateral positions. Asshown, the member 46 involves a knob operated screw 47 that retractsfrom the chamber to press the shoulder 45 to move said mandrel into itsfully protracted position. The said fully protracted position isdeterminable by observing the coplanar condition of butt 27 with end 28,and accordingly this condition can be assured by employing operatingmeans 0 which involves a wedge 50 that is forcible between the portionsH and T, the heel portion H having an inner terminal end 51 opposed toand in a plane upwardly divergent with the planes of 27 and 28 so as toreceive the wedge 50. Wedge 50 provides for longitudinal adjustmentwhile forcing 27 and 28 to said coplanar condition which assures fullprotraction of the mandrel M.

Referring now to the basic form of insert shown in FIG. 5, there is amultiplicity of insert openings 32' throughout the exterior surface ofthe formed portion 30' and in the form of relatively small bore openingsfor exposure of the inserts to the mandrel. In this embodiment themandrel M is shown as a round element having an inclined surface 20' asabove described, and which is therefore a tapered cone-shaped mandrel.The inserts A etc. are buttonshaped with a flat head 55 providing theexterior wall 35' and with a stem 56 providing the guiding side walls 3'and inner face 37'. In practice, a selection of inserts A comprised ofdifferent length stems 56 is provided and selectively used as indicated,and all to the end that a predetermined lateral positioning is obtainedwhen the mandrel M is fully protracted.

From the foregoing it will be seen that l have provided a very practicalshoe tree that is not encumbered in any way. The improvements thereinreside in laterally shiftable inserts that modify the exterior contourof the last configuration and all to the end that localized areasthereof can be stretched to predetermined extents. The predeterminedpositioning of the insert or inserts is effected by the fully protractedpositioning of the mandrel, while the desired adjustment of the insertor inserts is in each instance effected by selection or by manualadjustment of the screw jacks, or shims, which determine their lateraldisplacement. The most critical areas are illustrated and describedherein, and it is a simple matter to install the removeable and adjustedinserts into their complementary recesses or openings and to spring theshoe tree into working position which protracts the mandrel for lateralactuation of the inserts. It will be observed that the walls 33 ofopenings 32 are inwardly convergent so as to limit depression of theinserts while permitting removal and free lateral displacement thereof;and since stretching of a shoe upper requires pressure, force is appliedby the operating means 0 which positively moves the mandrel forwardlyinto its fully protracted position (as shown). It is the fullyprotracted positioning of the mandrel M which determines thepredetermined lateral displacement of the adjusted inserts.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of myinvention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specificdetails herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself anymodifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A shoe tree having a formed portion with an exterior contourcomplementary to and to be fitted to the interior contour of a shoe, andincluding; a chamber within the said formed portion and opening at itsinner end, a retractile mandrel entering said inner end opening of thechamber and with an inclined surface thereon and shiftable along alongitudinally disposed line of movement to a fully protracted positioninto said chamber, protracting means moving the mandrel into thechamber, and a laterally displaceable insert having an exterior contourform normally continuing from the surrounding exterior contour of theshoe tree, said insert being engageable with the inclined surface of themandrel when fully protracted into position for predetermined lateraldisplacement of the insert.

2. The shoe tree with laterally displaced insert as set forth in claim 1wherein the said formed portion of the shoe tree has a lateral openingcoextensive with the contour form of the insert and extending from thechamber to the exterior thereof to accommodate the laterallydisplaceable insert.

3. The shoe tree with laterally displaced insert as set forth in claim 1wherein the said formed portion has a lateral opening coextensive withthe contour form of the insert and extending from the chamber to theexterior thereof with walls engageably surrounding the insert to guidethe same.

4. The shoe tree with laterally displaced insert as set forth in claim 1wherein the said formed portion has a lateral opening coextensive withthe contour form of the insert and extending from the chamber to theexterior thereof with outwardly divergent walls engageably surroundingthe insert to limit inward depression of the same.

5. The shoe tree with laterally displaced insert as set forth in claim 1wherein the said formed portion has a lateral opening coextensive withthe contour form of the insert and extending from the chamber to theexterior thereof with inclined walls engageable with the insert todisplace the same longitudinally upon lateral displacement of the same.

6. The shoe tree with laterally displaced insert as set forth in claim 1wherein the lateral displacement of the insert is adjustable by meansincreasing the dimension thereof between its exterior contour form andface engageable with the said inclined surface of the mandrel.

7. The shoe tree with laterally displaced insert as set forth in claim 1wherein the lateral displacement of the insert is adjustable by screwmeans increasing the dimension thereof between its exterior contour formand said inclined surface of the mandrel.

8. The shoe tree with laterally displaced insert as set forth in claim 1wherein the protracting means is a force applying screw means operablefrom the said formed portion of the shoe tree to engage and move themandrel therein into said fully protracted prosition.

9. A shoe tree having formed toe and heel portions each with an exteriorcontour complementary to and to be fitted to the interior contour of thetoe and heel of a shoe respectively, and including; a chamber within oneof said formed portions and opening at its inner end, a retractilemandrel entering said inner end opening of the chamber and with aninclined surface thereon and shiftable along a longitudinally disposedline of movement to a fully protracted position into said chamber, meansforcibly separating the other of said formed portions from the mandrelto protract the mandrel into the chamber in said one formed portion, anda laterally displaceable insert having an exterior contour form normallycontinuing from the surrounding exterior contour of said one formedportion of the shoe tree, said insert having a face engageable with theinclined surface of the mandrel when fully protracted into position forpredetermined lateral displacement of the insert.

10. The shoe tree comprised of forcibly separated toe and heel portionsand one with a laterally displaced insert as set forth in claim 9wherein the said one formed portion of the shoe tree has a lateralopening coexten sive with the contour form of the insert and extendingfrom the chamber to the exterior thereof to accommodate the laterallydisplaceable insert.

11. The shoe tree comprised of forcibly separated toe and heel portionsand one with a laterally displaced insert as set forth in claim 9wherein the said one formed portion of the shoe tree has a lateralopening coextensive with the contour form of the insert and extendingfrom the chamber to the exterior thereof with walls engageablysurrounding the insert to guide the same.

12. The shoe tree comprised of forcibly separated toe and heel portionsand one with a laterally displaced insert as set forth in claim 9wherein the said one formed portion of the shoe tree has a lateralopening coextensive with the contour form of the insert and extendingfrom the chamber to the exterior thereof with outwardly divergent wallsengageably surrounding the insert to limit inward depression of thesame.

13. The shoe tree comprised of forcibly separated toe and heel portionsand one with a laterally displaced insert as set forth in claim 9wherein the said one formed portion of the shoe tree has a lateralopening coextensive with the contour form of the insert and extendingfrom the chamber to the exterior thereof with inclined walls engageablewith the insert to displace the same longitudinally upon lateraldisplacement of the same.

14. The shoe tree comprised of forcibly separated toe and heel portionsand one with a laterally displaced insert as set forth in claim 9wherein the lateral displacement of the insert is adjustable by meansincreasing the dimension thereof between its exterior contour form andface engageable with the said inclined surface of the mandrel.

15. The shoe tree comprised of forcibly separated toe and heel portionsand one with a laterally displaced insert as set forth in claim 9wherein the lateral displacement of the insert is adjustable by screwmeans increasing the dimension thereof between its exterior contour formand said inclined surface of the mandrel.

16. The shoe tree comprised of forcibly separated toe and heel portionsand one with a laterally displaced insert as set forth in claim 9wherein the protracting means is a force exerting means operable betweenthe said one formed portion of the shoe tree and the mandrel, and themandrel moved thereby to said fully protracted position.

17. The shoe tree comprised of forcibly separated toe and heel portionsand one with a laterally displaced insert as set forth in claim 9wherein the protracting means is a force applying screw means operablefrom the said one formed portion of the shoe tree to engage and move themandrel therein to said fully protracted position.

18. The shoe tree comprised of forcibly separated toe and heel portionsand one with a laterally displaced insert as set forth in claim 9wherein the protracting means is a force applying wedge means removeablyapplied between the said other portion and the said one portion of theshoe tree and the mandrel engaged thereby to be fully protracted

1. A shoe tree having a formed portion with an exterior contourcomplementary to and to be fitted to the interior contour of a shoe, andincluding; a chamber within the said formed portion and opening at itsinner end, a retractile mandrel entering said inner end opening of thechamber and with an inclined surface thereon and shiftable along alongitudinally disposed line of movement to a fully protracted positioninto said chamber, protracting means moving the mandrel into thechamber, and a laterally displaceable insert having an exterior contourform normally continuing from the surrounding exterior contour of theshoe tree, said insert being engageable with the inclined surface of themandrel when fully protracted into position for predetermined lateraldisplacement of the insert.
 2. The shoe tree with laterally displacedinsert as set forth in claim 1 wherein the said formed portion of theshoe tree has a lateral opening coextensive with the contour form of theinsert and extending from the chamber to the exterior thereof toaccommodate the laterally displaceable insert.
 3. The shoe tree withlaterally displaced insert as set forth in claim 1 wherein the saidformed portion has a lateral opening coextensive with the contour formof the insert and extending from the chamber to the exterior thereofwith walls engageably surrounding the insert to guide the same.
 4. Theshoe tree with laterally displaced insert as set forth in claim 1wherein the said formed portion has a lateral opening coextensive withthe contour form of the insert and extending from the chamber to theexterior thereof with outwardly divergent walls engageably surroundingthe insert to limit inward depression of the same.
 5. The shoe tree withlaterally displaced insert as set forth in claim 1 wherein the saidformed portion has a lateral opening coextensive with the contour formof the insert and extending from the chamber to the exterior thereofwith inclined walls engageable with the insert to displace the samelongitudinally upon lateral displacement of the same.
 6. The shoe treewith laterally displaced insert as set forth in claim 1 wherein thelateral displacement of the insert is adjustable by means increasing thedimension thereof between its exterior contour form and face engageablewith the said inclined surface of the mandrel.
 7. The shoe tree withlaterally displaced insert as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lateraldisplacement of the insert is adjustable by screw means increasing thedimension thereof between its exterior contour form and said inclinedsurface of the mandrel.
 8. The shoe tree with laterally displaced insertas set forth in claim 1 wherein the protracting means is a forceapplying screw means operable from the said formed portion of the shoetree to engage and move the mandrel therein into said fully protractedprosition.
 9. A shoe tree having formed toe and heel portions each withan exterior contour complementary to and to be fitted to the interiorcontour of the toe and heel of a shoe respectively, and including; achamber within one of said formed portions and opening at its inner end,a retractile mandrel entering said inner end opening of the chamber andwith an inclined surface thereon and shiftable along a longitudinallydisposed line of movement to a fully protracted position into saidchamber, means forcibly separating the other of said formed portionsfrom the mandrel to protract the mandrel into the chamber in said oneformed portion, and a laterally displaceable insert having an exteriorcontour form normally continuing from the surrounding exterior contourof said one formed portion of the shoe tree, said insert having a faceengageable with the inclined surface of the mandrel when fullyprotracted into position for predetermined lateral displacement of theinsert.
 10. The shoe tree comprised of forcibly separated toe and heelportions and one with a laterally displaced insert as set forth in claim9 wherein the said one formed portion of the shoe tree has a lateralopening coextensive with the contour form of the insert and extendingfrom the chamber to the exterior thereof to accommodate the laterallydisplaceable insert.
 11. The shoe tree comprised of forcibly separatedtoe and heel portions and one with a laterally displaced insert as setforth in claim 9 wherein the said one formed portion of the shoe treehas a lateral opening coextensive with the contour form of the insertand extending from the chamber to the exterior thereof with wallsengageably surrounding the insert to guide the same.
 12. The shoe treecomprised of forcibly separated toe and heel portions and one with alaterally displaced insert as set forth in claim 9 wherein the said oneformed portion of the shoe tree has a lateral opening coextensive withthe contour form of the insert and extending from the chamber to theexterior thereof with outwardly divergent walls engageably surroundingthe insert to limit inward depression of the same.
 13. The shoe treecomprised of forcibly separated toe and heel portions and one with alaterally displaced insert as set forth in claim 9 wherein the said oneformed portion of the shoe tree has a lateral opening coextensive withthe contour form of the insert and extending from the chamber to theexterior thereof with inclined walls engageable with the insert todisplace the same longitudinally upon lateral displacement of the same.14. The shoe tree comprised of fOrcibly separated toe and heel portionsand one with a laterally displaced insert as set forth in claim 9wherein the lateral displacement of the insert is adjustable by meansincreasing the dimension thereof between its exterior contour form andface engageable with the said inclined surface of the mandrel.
 15. Theshoe tree comprised of forcibly separated toe and heel portions and onewith a laterally displaced insert as set forth in claim 9 wherein thelateral displacement of the insert is adjustable by screw meansincreasing the dimension thereof between its exterior contour form andsaid inclined surface of the mandrel.
 16. The shoe tree comprised offorcibly separated toe and heel portions and one with a laterallydisplaced insert as set forth in claim 9 wherein the protracting meansis a force exerting means operable between the said one formed portionof the shoe tree and the mandrel, and the mandrel moved thereby to saidfully protracted position.
 17. The shoe tree comprised of forciblyseparated toe and heel portions and one with a laterally displacedinsert as set forth in claim 9 wherein the protracting means is a forceapplying screw means operable from the said one formed portion of theshoe tree to engage and move the mandrel therein to said fullyprotracted position.
 18. The shoe tree comprised of forcibly separatedtoe and heel portions and one with a laterally displaced insert as setforth in claim 9 wherein the protracting means is a force applying wedgemeans removeably applied between the said other portion and the said oneportion of the shoe tree and the mandrel engaged thereby to be fullyprotracted